Joe, (not his real name) a Con Edison worker for the past 21 years, wiped sweat from his forehead under the 90-degree heat as he barked instructions to two of his crew members who were making repairs to cables along Astoria Boulevard.
“Tomorrow will be my first day off since the blackout started,” Joe said on Friday, August 4. For nearly three weeks, he and hundreds of other workers spent 12- to 16-hour shifts in record heat and dangerous conditions inside manholes, where temperatures regularly reach upwards of 150 degrees Fahrenheit and can get as high as 200 degrees (water boils at 212 degrees).
“And, every job is different; see this is a big hole,” Joe continued, motioning to a five-foot high square manhole on Astoria Boulevard where the crewmembers were working that afternoon.
“I have had some holes that I've had to lie on my stomach, and they've [other crewmembers] had to hold my feet.”
For three weeks, Con Ed has been under fire from residents, business owners and local politicians for its response during and in the aftermath of the 10-day blackout that began on Monday, July 17.
However, during the outage, Con Ed workers who were the most visible on the scene trying to repair the networks often took the brunt of the public's frustrations and criticisms for the blackout.
Harry Farrell, President of Utility Workers Union of America, Local 1-2, which represents the Con Ed workers, said local politicians bashing the utility company incited western Queens residents to take out their anger on the workers. Farrell said that throughout the week, some area residents spit on, threw dead fish at, and even shot paintballs at the workers repairing the damage.
However, Farrell said that these incidents were not the norm during or after the blackout.
“The people in Astoria are a tremendous bunch of people, and I believe it wasn't the majority of people in Astoria that did these things to our members.”
When Con Ed realized the severity of the outage, they sent additional crews into the area with crews generally working 12- to 16-hour days with, if they were lucky, one day off during the week. With eight consecutive days of temperatures above 90 degrees and three climbing into triple digits, workers often experienced dangerous conditions.
“Hot, very, very hot,” said Frank (not his real name), a 38-year Con Ed veteran describing the conditions inside the manholes. “You have to be very careful, and the feeders are running very hot too with all the cables burning.”
In addition to the stifling temperatures outside as well as in the manholes, Con Ed workers have to wear fire-retardant clothes, long sleeve shirts and pants to protect them while working with high-voltage electricity.
“Our inner garments are soaked,” said Mike (not his real name), a worker who has been with the utility giant for 33 years after he came up from working underground for an hour on Friday, August 4.
John Sugrue, a senior business agent and safety director for the worker's union likened the clothing to one step below bunker gear, but said it is necessary for the workers' safety.
“The clothing they are wearing is not a fashion statement,” said Sugrue, who has been involved with Con Ed for 40 years, working 20 years as a troubleshooter. “It is what they must wear to not get burned or to get burned a little less should something break off on them.”
As of Monday, August 7, six workers from Local 1-2 were taken to the hospital for treatment due to injuries suffered while working in western Queens, but none of the injuries were life-threatening, according to Farrell.
Typically, crews of either two or four work on a specific manhole at one time. Generally, manholes are between eight and 12 feet deep, but throughout the city, you can find manholes as deep as 18 feet, according to Sugrue.
However, there is usually only enough space inside the manhole for one crewmember to work at a time so the crews rotate who goes down into the sweltering heat.
“Then they [the workers not inside the manhole] blow 95 degree air down on top of the worker to keep him cool,” Sugrue said.
“You have to be very, very careful,” Frank said. “If there is any sudden movement or noise, most of the time, you are up right out of the hole.”
As the workers continue to make repairs on the network, they said area residents have become increasingly supportive including storeowners in the area not charging workers for water and other fluids.
“They have been very nice,” Frank said. “One woman just walked by, and said she is praying for us every night.”
“Con Ed employees need love too,” another worker lamented.
Editor's Note:The Queens Courier spoke with a number of Con Edison workers to find out first-hand how the workers repairing the damaged western Queens network have been faring since the blackout began. Some workers agreed to speak with The Courier under the condition of anonymity to protect them from any repercussions from the company.
THE HOLE STORY – Workers reveal hazards of Con Ed manholes
By Pete Davis
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